RENSSELAER PLATEAU ALLIANCE INC

Conserve Unbroken Forests & Ecologically Important Areas
Through an alliance of privately and publicly protected land we aim to conserve 18,000 acres by 2018. We will use land donations, conservation easements, and the purchase of development rights to achieve this objective. This overarching goal will ensure that the Plateau's clean air, fresh water, unique wildlife habitat and recreational areas continue to benefit current and future generations.

Expand Education, Outreach & Communication

We will increase awareness of the Plateau's valuable benefits by expanding outreach and education to community members and local municipalities. Landowners will be provided with opportunities to gain knowledge of sustainable forest management practices. Educational events for children will teach them about unique and natural resources found on the Plateau. We will enhance and expand our comprehensive resources available for local municipalities.

Establish the Plateau as a Recreational Destination

We will develop a Trail Vision Plan that will establish the Plateau as a recreational destination with a regional trail network, connecting existing trails on the Plateau and other trails throughout Rensselaer County. Engaging the community, we will make the Plateau a more accessible resource for the public by developing new trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, hiking, bird watching, and many other family activities

Establish a Community Forest for the People

We will establish a Community Forest that will provide educational, recreational, environmental, and economic benefits to the local and greater Rensselaer Plateau community, such as: training programs for sustainable forest management, economic development opportunities through tourism & the local forest products industry, child and adult educational programs, and publicly accessible trails. As a demonstration forest, the community will benefit from learning about best practices for stewardship and conservation.

Increase Organizational Capacity

We recognize that, as we pursue new opportunities, we must invest in a strong infrastructure. Paid staffing, print materials, and an increased schedule of activities require funding. We will generate the necessary funds to support RPA staff and operations, and to purchase and establish the Community Forest.

Conserve Unbroken Forests & Ecologically Important Areas

We will work in partnership with a number of organizations to accomplish this goal. Our current partner for this goal are NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Hudson River Estuary Program, Renssleaer Land Trust and Agricultural Stewardship Association. We will use a variety of techniques to reach landowners who may be interested in voluntarily conserving their land. We will send post cards, e-mails, and press releases and hold open house events for landowners. We will use funding sources such as the US Forest Service Forest Legacy Program that have a capacity for large awards.

Expand Education, Outreach & Communication

We will work with our many partners, including but not limited to the Hudson River Estuary Program, Cornell University, Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Rensselaer Land Trust, New York Forest Owners Association, Empire State Forest Products Association and others to deliver quality programs and workshops. We will utilize our Community Forest(s) as a demonstration forest and we will host a monthly lecture series on a variety of topics.

Establish the Plateau as a Recreational Destination

We will seek funding and will work with a variety of partners including but not limited to the Hudson River Valley Greenway, Rensselaer Land Trust, Adirondack Mountain Club, Taconic Hiking Club, Saratoga Mountain Bike Association and others. We will hire professional planners as necessary and as funds allow and will engage the public to produce a Trail Vision Plan in increasing levels of detail. We will partner with these same organizations to implement the plan.

Establish a Community Forest for the People

This goal has already been attained and was such a big success that we are currently working to establish a second Community Forest in East Nassau. The strategies include holding public workshops and forming a committee of community members and then seeking a willing seller and funding to acquire the property.

Increase Organizational Capacity

We will continue to grow our base of supporters by following the Comprehensive Development Plan created in 2014. . .

RPA has a proven track record in engaging the communities of the region, in education and outreach to landowners and in grant writing and finding funding to support projects.

RPA's strength has always lay with its devoted volunteer board of directors and its large and increasing number of partners. Since June of 2015 RPA now has two dedicated part time staff members.

RPA's board of directors has skills ranging from land use attorney to biologist, retired educators, research scientists, environmental educators, master forest owners and sociologists.

RPA's partners range from the land trusts community (Land Trust Alliance, Rensselaer Land Trust, Agricultural Stewardship Association, Columbia Land Conservancy, etc.) , to environmental education centers and parks (Dyken Pond, Grafton Lakes State Park), recreational organizations and clubs (Adirondack Mountain Club, Taconic Hiking Club, Saratoga Mountain Bike Association, etc.), government agencies (NYS DEC, Hudson River Estuary Program, Hudson River Valley Greenway), professional trade organizations (Empire State Forest Products Association, New York Logger Training, Inc.), landowner organizations (New York Forest Owners Association), large conservation organizations (The Conservation Fund, Open Space Institute, The Nature Conservancy, etc.), local towns and villages and others. RPA engages and works with various partners continuously to provide programming, educations and land conservation projects.

Conserve Unbroken Forests & Ecologically Important Areas

We currently have nearly 14,000 acres of land either already conserved or funded and in the process to be conserved. That leaves 4,000 more acres to achieve our first goal.

Expand Education, Outreach & Communication

We have provided with our partners a wide variety of educational programs and workshops. Our outreach and communications has become more consistent and formalized. We will continue to provide more and more educational programming as our capacity continues to increase.

Establish the Plateau as a Recreational Destination

We have completed Phases 1 and 2 of a Regional Trail Vision and Regional Trail Action Plan.

Establish a Community Forest for the People

We now have two very successful community forests and are working on a third are now working on our second Community Forest in a different corner of the Plateau community.

Increase Organizational Capacity

We are growing every year. After hiring our first staff in 2015 we now have five staff members. We expect to hire a sixths and maybe a seventh in 2021.